Chapter 3_Forever Online - Wanderer

Chapter 3

After some time Gareth arrived back in the village, his health and stamina full at this point, due to the sacrifice of three bread. Walking into the square he saw that directly behind where he had spawned was a small building with a sign reading ‘Library’ and that a street ran through the square connecting this gate to one on the other side of town, where the small figures of players were swinging swords at tiny rabbits.

“Oh come on! I cannot believe how stupid I am sometimes, I might just die from wet tofu at this rate”

Finished being mad at himself, Gareth began walking to the library. Upon entering the dry smell of paper and leather bindings inundated his senses, and his eyes slowly adjusted to the dim light. Looking around the building revealed several dusty shelves with a few lonely piles of books on the shelves, only one book on the nearest shelf was free of dust and cobwebs.

‘Basic Guidebook’

Gareth reached and picked up the book, it dissolved into light and reappeared on the shelf.

*Quest - Basic Knowledge complete

Gareth quickly opened his status, the attribute points were unlocked and there was a new item in his inventory.

Introduction to (world name)

Opening the book Gareth began to read

‘A hundred years have passed since the war with the Abyss, and the Kingdom of Mort has recovered and started to expand its borders into the wilderness, Frontier Towns like Greenbrook, push back the wilderness and the abyssal corruption within, to allow the kingdom to grow.’

*New Quest - Remove 5 Animal Burrows from the area surrounding the town

*Rewards: 200xp +10 Greenbrook reputation

Aside from the intro book which also disappeared, there were several changes to his status, there were damage and durability values for his equipment, and values for skill points. As well as short descriptions of the basic attribute, explaining that Constitution affects health and stamina, Strength affects attack damage and carry capacity, Agility affects speed and dexterity, Perception affects sight, Intelligence affects mana, Defense affects magical and physical defense.

With this new knowledge Gareth decided to distribute his attribute points to increase his fighting ability, increasing strength, and defense.

Character Status

Health: 20/20

Stamina: 50/50

Name: Gareth

Level: 1(40/100)

Class: N/A

Race: Human

Titles: Twig breaker(inactive)

FA: 0

Constitution: 10

Strength: 13

Agility: 10

Perception: 10

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Intelligence: 10

Defense: 12

Inventory

1 Rusty Iron Sword(5 damage, 2/15 durability)

10 Bread

Goblin Short Sword(10 damage, 6/20 durability)

50 Copper

Skills

Beginner Sword Holding - Somewhat able to hold a sword(28/1000)

Toss - able to throw objects(2/1000)

Block - you are able to move one object in front of another(24/1000)

Finished with his status, Gareth was about to leave the library when he sneezed due to the dust, and caught sight of a book behind one of the shelves. Curious, he walked over and picked it up

‘Basic Cartography’

“Huh”

*New Quest - Map the surrounding area(Good quality) - In order to properly develop Greenbrook Town, a map of the surrounding area is necessary. Receive the skill basic cartography, if quest is failed, skill will be removed.

Rewards: 500xp, 25 Greenbrook reputation, +100 Basic Cartography skill points

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Smiling Gareth left the building with a new skill, and two new quests. Deciding to find some way to repair his weapons, Gareth went in search of a blacksmith. Wandering around the town, he eventually heard the noise of banging towards the back side of the town. Approaching the building, a shop entrance was in front, and a smithy behind the building. Entering the building, Gareth was greeted by a young man sharpening a sword, and several other players milling around the shop.

“Hey, can you repair these weapons for me?”

“Hmm, yes, it will be 38 coppers, come back in 30 minutes”

“Alright, thanks”

Handing over the two swords and a pile of coins, gareth turned and left the building. Inspecting his new skill ‘Basic Cartography’ he realized that it required several materials, including parchment and a writing utensil. Remembering where he had seen those items brought a frown to his face, and he turned and walked briskly towards the square.

Arriving in front of the stall still covered in papers, Gareth called out for the owner of the stall.

“Hey, what are you doing here? Don’t even think of stealing my goods!”

Sounded a shrill voice from underneath the tablecloth covered table, before a small old creature crawled out from underneath.

“What! haven’t you seen a gnome before? And now why have you interrupted my beauty sleep?”

“I need materials for my Basic Cartography skill”

The gnome made a small noise and began to search through the objects on the table before diving back underneath.

“Do you have what I need? It says I only need some parchment and a quill, and I only have 12 coppers, is that enough?”

“No, of course it isn’t enough, luckily for you, I will sell to you on credit, here, the total comes to 2 silver (200 copper), you can sell every unique map you make to me, and depending on the quality I will buy them, each map is worth between 30-100 copper, and these materials will make about 15 maps”

Saying this as the gnome put down several large pieces of parchment, with a primitive clipboard, and several pots of ink, and a quill. Gareth inspected the materials, knowing their purpose, and decided the quest rewards were worth it.

“Very well, I owe you 2 silver”

*A contract has been made between you and the Mayor of Greenbrook - breaking this contract will result in expulsion from Greenbrook town and -10 Kingdom reputation.

Smiling the gnome shooed away the dumbstruck Gareth, slowly stuffing the materials into his inventory, Gareth began walking down the main street.

*Conditions for Basic Cartography met, would you like to activate Basic Cartography

(Y/N)?

Hesitant, Gareth selected yes, a tendril of bluem ana rose from his arm and connected to the paper, ink and board in his inventory, pulling them out and crudely applying the ink to the paper. The objects hovered over his right hand, following it as he moved his hand, several minutes later as he continued walking down the street, a part of the paper had been filled in showing the street and names of the various businesses, as it was about to start on the gate, the force supporting them cut out dropping everything onto the ground.

Startled Gareth was pulled from watching the ink dance about the paper, and hurriedly put everything away once more. A dull headache prompted him to check his status noticing a new bar for mana, that was almost completely empty.